Card with embedded bistable display having short and long term information

ABSTRACT

A transaction card system includes a transaction cared with a display tag for displaying short term information, the character display having optical states that are stable without power and viewable from one side of the display tag and an array of electrical contacts for electrically addressing the character display from the other side of the tag, a contact window through which the contacts are accessible, machine readable data on the card, and long term information printed on the transaction card; a transaction card writer having a reader for reading the machine readable data and having means for updating the short term information displayed on the transaction card; and a central computer connected to the transaction card writer having a data base and a central processor for receiving the information read by the magnetic card reader and generating display commands for the transaction card writer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to transaction cards having an embeddedbistable display and a display writing system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a growing use of transaction cards having a changeable valueamount associated to it. These cards typically have long terminformation devices such as a magnetic strip or chip embedded thatrelates to a database holding the current value for that card. Otherlong term information on the card may be printed images done by way of,for instance, a thermal printing device. With subsequent usage of thecard, a reduced or increased value is assessed to the database relatingto the card. The consumer, however, has no visual indication on the cardshowing what amount remains until the next use. There is, therefore, aneed for an indicator which shows the short term amounts at any giventime on the card throughout its life. Such cards could be used forallotments of credits, such as phone cards and arcade games, andmonetary amounts such as gift cards and pre-set credit cards. This canbe accomplished with a thin, bistable display embedded within the cardshowing the ever changing amounts. A read/write device at the point ofsale will send the card data from the magnetic strip of memory chip tothe database and receive back new short term information to beelectronically written to the card prior to withdrawing it from theread/write device. Subsequent use of the card continues to change theshort term visual information in accordance with the database.

There is therefore a need for an improved transaction card that holdslong term data and images as well as short term visible information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The need is met according to the present invention by providing atransaction card system that includes a transaction card with a displaytag for displaying short term information, the character display havingoptical states that are stable without power and viewable from one sideof the display tag, and an array of electrical contacts for electricallyaddressing the character display from the other side of the tag, acontact window through which the contacts are accessible, machinereadable data on the card, and long term information printed on thetransaction card; a transaction card writer having a reader for readinginformation stored on the magnetic stripe of the transaction card andhaving means for updating the short term information displayed on thetransaction card; and a central computer connected to the transactioncard writer having a database and a central processor for receiving thedata read by the transaction card writer and generating display commandsfor the transaction card writer.

Advantages

The invention has the advantage of providing a transaction card systemthat updates and displays short term information relating to the use ofthe transaction card with an inexpensive and easily manufacturedtransaction card that does not contain any active electronics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a character display tag according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a character display tag taken alonglines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded back view of a transaction card according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled back view of the transaction card of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of an assembled transaction card takenalong 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a transaction card writer used toelectrically change the short term information on the transaction cardaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the transaction card writer of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a transaction card systemaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a character display tag 10 is constructed byforming a conductive common electrode layer 12 on a substrate 15. Alayer of bistable liquid crystal material 18 is deposited, for exampleby roll coating, over the conductive common electrode layer 12, leavingan exposed area 16 of layer 12 for making electrical contact.Electrically conductive character segments 20 are then formed, forexample by thick film printing over the bistable liquid crystal layer18. The character segments 20 may be arranged as numbers 0-9, a slash, adecimal point, a dollar sign, or a cent sign. A dielectric layer 19 isthen printed over the character segments 20, leaving via holes 22 overeach character segment 20. Electrically conductive traces 21 are printedover the dielectric layer 19 which flows through the via holes 22,making contact with the conductive character segments 20.

The conductive traces 21 terminate at the bottom of the tag 10 to form aplurality of contact pads 40. The optical state of the bistable liquidcrystal material 18 between the character segments 20 and the electrodelayer 12 can be changed by selectively applying drive voltages to thecontact pads 40 which are electrically connected to the charactersegments 20 and the electrode layer 12. Once the optical state of thebistable material has been changed, it remains in that stateindefinitely without further power being applied to the electrodes. Thecharacter display tag can be made as shown for example in U.S. Ser. No.10/134,185, filed Apr. 29, 2002 by Stephenson et al., which isincorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 3, a card body 25 is shown with a front window 28allowing front side viewing of tag 10 and a cap 30 to encapsulate thetag 10 within the card body 25 by a means of sealing, one of which isultrasonic. The tag 10 is positioned within the card body 25 by way oflocator darts 26. The cap 30 is placed in recess 32 of the back of cardbody 25. The cap 30 is ultrasonically sealed in the recess 32 to thecard body 25.

FIG. 4 shows an assembled transaction card 35 with an opening 37 in cap30 to allow external electrical contacts to reach contact pads 40 of tag10. The card also includes means for providing machine readable data,for example a magnetic strip 27 which holds stored data pertaining tothe transaction card 35. Alternatively, the means for providing machinereadable data may comprise an embedded memory chip with exposed contactson the card body, an RFID chip embedded in the card body 25, or a barcode printed on the card body.

FIG. 5 is a section view derived from FIG. 4 showing an enlargement ofthe tag portion of the assembled transaction card 35. The cap 30 afterbeing sealed into recess 32 becomes coplanar with the back of the cardbody 25, allowing uninterrupted insertion into a card writer.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a transaction card writer 45 is shown whichcan read a magnetic strip 27 as well as write to the display tag 10.Upon insertion into a slot, a magnetic strip reader 48 reads themagnetic strip 27 to determine the card data stored on the strip andrelates it to the stored data on a database. As insertion is completed,the card pushes against fingers 51, raising contact sled 56 by way of acamming angle 54 between the transaction card writer 45 and posts 55 ofcontact sled 56 which holds contact pins 52. When contact sled 56 isfully raised, the contact pins 52 come in contact with the contact pads40 of display tag 10 allowing electrical signals to change the state ofthe conductive segments 20.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a transaction card systemaccording to the present invention. A central computer 75 contains adatabase 70 having stored data pertaining to individual transactioncards 35. A transaction card writer 45 includes a reading device 48,which reads the machine readable data from the transaction card 35.Within transaction card writer 45 is a control circuit board 50 with adisplay driver controller 80, a plurality of contact pins 52, and wires65 from the pins 52 to the control circuit board 50. Cable 67 isconnected between a controller 85 on the control circuit board 50 and tothe central computer 75.

A printer 95 such as a thermal printer, can be provided to print longterm information on transaction card 35 when the card is first issued toa transaction card holder. The images originating from computer 75 aresent to the printer 95. The printing of long term information can thusbe done locally and customized with individual card issuer informationand markings.

A transaction card writer 45 can also be provide as part of a terminal90, which can be used to originally issue or recharge value to thetransaction card 35. At original issue, the issuer of the card wouldindicate to the computer 75 via an operator interface, such as akeyboard 96, the nature and value of the card. A new card would beprinted by the printer 95 and written by transaction card writer 45 toshow the value of the card. If additional value is desired for thetransaction card 35, the transaction card can be inserted into atransaction card writer 45 within the terminal 90. The database 70 wouldrecognize the card identification from the machine readable data on thecard. Once the desired increased amount is paid for by either cashpayment or charged from a credit or debit card, the value is updated inthe database 70 by way of the central computer 75. The new value is thensent to the transaction card writer 45 within the terminal 90 andwritten to the transaction card 35. The transaction to increase thevalue of the card can be performed by a clerk, or can be performedautomatically by the terminal 90.

The transaction card system of the present invention can be used, forexample, to provide a prepaid gift card; a prepaid game card; a presetlimit credit card; a prepaid service card for services such asutilities, gasoline, telephone, transportation, college bookstores,cafeterias, theatre, or concerts; a cumulated credit card where anaccumulated credit due to the use of the card is displayed on the card;a library card indicating when the book is due where the informationstored in the card is the ID of a book and the information displayed onthe card is the due date of the book; a club membership card where theshort term information relates to club privileges; a video store cardwhere the short term information relates to a number of video rentalsdue to the holder of the card; a “frequent flyer” card where the shortterm information shows the number of miles (credits) accumulated.

For example, if the transaction card is a prepaid card, the followingprocess could take place. The card would be purchased from a retailerfor a given amount, e.g. $50, and an account in that amount associatedwith the identifier on the card would be created in the database. Theretailer would produce the card and write the prepaid amount into thecard to show on the display tag. When a card holder uses the card topurchase a item or a service, the provider of the item or service wouldcommunicate the value of the transaction to the computer and the valuewould be deducted from the balance in the database and a new remainingbalance would be displayed on the card.

In the example where the transaction card is a credit card with acumulative limit, the issuer of the credit card would supply the cardwith an agreed upon credit limit which would be displayed on the cardand recorded in the database. As each purchase is made with the card,the remaining credit value in the database would be updated anddisplayed on the card. When the credit value reaches zero, furthercredit would be denied to the card holder. When a payment is made towardthe credit card, the database is updated to show the new availablecredit. The next time the credit card is used, the amount of remainingavailable credit is updated to show the balance of credit after thepayment and any further transactions.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Parts List

-   10 character display tag-   12 common electrode layer-   15 substrate-   16 exposed area-   18 bistable liquid crystal layer-   19 dielectric layer-   20 conductive character segments-   21 conductive traces-   22 via holes-   25 card body-   26 locator darts-   27 magnetic strip-   28 window-   30 cap-   32 backside recess-   35 transaction card assembly-   37 cap opening-   40 tag contact pads-   45 transaction card writer-   48 magnetic strip reader-   50 circuit board w/drivers-   51 fingers-   52 contact pins-   54 camming angle-   55 contact sled posts-   56 contact sled-   65 wires-   67 cable-   70 central computer database-   75 central computer-   80 display driver controller-   85 card writer microprocessor-   90 terminal-   95 printer-   96 keyboard

1. A transaction card, comprising: a) a card body defining a recess anda viewing window in the recess, the card body having long terminformation printed thereon; b) a display tag including a characterdisplay for displaying short term information, the character displayhaving optical states that are stable without power and viewable fromone side of the tag and an array of contacts for addressing thecharacter display from the other side of the tag, the display tag beinglocated in the recess with the character display being viewable throughthe viewing window; c) a cap defining a contact window, the cap beingmounted in the recess over the display tag with the contacts beingaccessible through the contact window, an exposed surface of the capbeing coplanar with a back surface of the card body; and d) means forproviding machine readable data.
 2. The transaction card claimed inclaim 1, wherein the means for providing machine readable data is amagnetic stripe on the card body, an embedded memory chip with exposedcontacts on the card body, an RFID chip embedded in the card body, or abar code printed on the card body.
 3. The transaction card claimed inclaim 1, wherein the display tag comprises a bistable cholesteric liquidcrystal display.
 4. The transaction card claimed in claim 2, wherein thedisplay tag comprises: a) a substrate; b) a common electrode layerlocated on the substrate and defining a common electrode for eachcharacter in the display, the common electrodes including a contactportion that extends to an edge of the display; c) a bistable liquidcrystal layer located over the common electrode layer, the bistableliquid crystal layer extending up to, but not over the contact portionsof the common electrode layer; d) a plurality of conductive characterelements located on the bistable liquid crystal layer over each of thecommon electrodes; e) a dielectric layer located over the conductivecharacter elements, the dielectric layer defining vias to the characterelements; and f) a corresponding plurality of conductive traces on thedielectric layer and in electrical contact with respective conductivecharacter elements through the respective vias and extending from therespective vias to the edge of the display tag.
 5. A transaction cardsystem, comprising: a) a transaction card having i) a card body defininga recess and a viewing window in the recess, the card body having longterm information printed thereon; ii) a display tag including acharacter display for displaying short term information, the display taghaving optical states that are stable without power and viewable fromone side of the tag and an array of electrical contacts for electricallyaddressing the character display from the other side of the tag, thedisplay tag being located in the recess with the character display beingviewable through the viewing window; iii) a cap defining a contactwindow, the cap being mounted in the recess over the display tag withthe contacts being accessible through the contact window, an exposedsurface of the cap being coplanar with a back surface of the card body;and iv) means for providing machine readable data; b) a transaction cardwriter having, i) a reader for the machine readable data; ii) an arrayof electrical contact pins arranged for making contact with the displaytag through the contact window in the cap; and iii) control electronicsincluding means for receiving display commands and producing drivesignals to the electrical contacts and means for communicating themachine readable data; and c) a central computer connected to thetransaction card writer and having a data base and a central processorfor receiving the data read by the magnetic card reader and generatingdisplay commands for the transaction card writer.
 6. The system claimedin claim 5, wherein the means for providing machine readable data is amagnetic stripe on the card body, an embedded memory chip with exposedcontacts on the card body, an RFID chip embedded in the card body, or abar code printed on the card body.
 7. The system claimed in claim 5,wherein the machine readable data is a unique identifier; the data basecontains information relating to privileges due to the holder of thecard; and the central computer retrieves currently available privilegeinformation based on the unique identifier, updates the information inthe data base based on any current transaction and outputs a displaycommand corresponding to the currently available privilege.
 8. Thesystem claimed in claim 5, further comprising a terminal connected tothe central computer for indicating the receipt of value, the terminalincluding a transaction card writer for updating the short terminformation displayed on the transaction card based on the valuereceived; and the computer including means for updating the privilegeinformation based on the amount of value received.
 9. The system claimedin claim 8, wherein the terminal is an automated terminal including acredit card reader and/or a cash receiver.
 10. The system claimed inclaim 8, wherein the value is received in the form of cash.
 11. Thesystem claimed in claim 8, wherein the value is received in the form ofan electronic credit or debit transaction.
 12. The system claimed inclaim 5, further comprising a printer connected to the central computerfor printing the long term information on the transaction card.
 13. Thesystem card writer claimed in claim 12, further comprising a writerconnected to the central computer for writing machine readable data onthe card.
 14. A transaction card writer for writing short terminformation onto a transaction card having a display tag including acharacter display for displaying the short term information, thecharacter display having optical states that are stable without powerand viewable from one side of the display tag and an array of electricalcontacts for electrically addressing the character display from theother side of the tag, a contact window through which the contacts areaccessible, and means on the card for providing machine readable data,comprising: a) a reader for reading machine readable data stored ontransaction card; b) an array of electrical contact pins arranged formaking contact with the display tag on the transaction card through thecontact window in the card; c) means for moving the electrical contactsbetween a position out of contact with the display tag to a positioninto contact with the display tag in response to insertion and removalof the transaction card into a slot in the transaction card writer,thereby minimizing wear on the array of electrical contacts on thetransaction card; and d) control electronics including means forreceiving display commands and producing drive signals to the electricalcontacts and means for communicating the data read by the transactioncard writer.
 15. The transaction card writer claimed in claim 14,wherein the means for providing machine readable data is a magneticstripe on the card body, an embedded memory chip with exposed contactson the card body, an RFID chip embedded in the card body, or a bar codeprinted on the card body.
 16. The transaction card writer claimed inclaim 14, further comprising a writer for writing machine readable dataonto the card.
 17. A method of conducting a transaction, comprising: a)providing a transaction card system having, i) a transaction cared witha display tag for displaying short term information, the characterdisplay having optical states that are stable without power and viewablefrom one side of the display tag and an array of electrical contacts forelectrically addressing the character display from the other side of thetag, a contact window through which the contacts are accessible, meansfor providing machine readable data on the card, and long terminformation printed on the transaction card; ii) a transaction cardwriter having a reader for reading the machine readable data and meansfor updating the short term information displayed on the transactioncard; and iii) a central computer connected to the transaction cardwriter having a data base and a central processor for receiving the dataread by the reader and generating display commands for the transactioncard writer; and b) conducting a transaction using the transaction cardsystem, by reading the machine readable data on the transaction card inthe transaction card writer to retrieve information relating to atransaction privilege and updating the short term information on thetransaction card based on specifics of the transaction and thetransaction privilege.
 18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein themeans for providing machine readable data is a magnetic stripe on thecard body, an embedded memory chip with exposed contacts on the cardbody, an RFID chip embedded in the card body, or a bar code printed onthe card body.
 19. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the shortterm information displayed by the transaction card is a monetary value.20. The method claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of: c)providing a terminal connected to the central computer for indicating areceipt of value; d) receiving value at the terminal from a holder of atransaction card; and e) updating the privilege information and updatingthe short term information displayed on the transaction card based onthe value received.